VICI Properties’ acquisition of seven Nevada casino properties from Golden Entertainment is due to close on or around 30 April.
Golden Entertainment’s shareholders approved the previously announced transaction at a meeting held on 31 March.
With the deal now having acquired all the necessary regulatory approvals, both parties are expectant that the $1.16bn sale will be finalised.
This agreement is one half of a major structural overhaul at the Nevada-based casino operator, with chairman and CEO Blake Sartini also in the process of taking the company private for $30 a share.
Terms of the sale
The sale-leaseback arrangement means that Golden Entertainment will continue to run the venues, owning all the gaming and operational assets.
Subject to the remaining customary closing conditions, VICI will enter into a triple-net master lease with a newly formed holding company owned and controlled by Sartini.
Annual rent is set to be $87m for an initial 30-year term with an additional four renewal options for five-year periods.
The terms of the ‘Golden Master Lease’ also stipulates that the rent rise by 2% annually starting from the third year.
This deal frees up Golden Entertainment from its $426m of outstanding debt.
When the deal officially gets over the line, the real estate company will immediately assume and retire that debt.
Shareholders are set to receive 0.902 shares of VICI stock for every Golden Entertainment share they own, as well as an unspecified cash consideration payable by an affiliate of Golden OpCo.
Which venues are changing hands?
All seven casino properties being sold are located in Nevada, including the STRAT Hotel, Casino and Tower on the North Las Vegas Strip.
VICI Properties already owns the physical real estate of several high-profile casinos on the Strip, including Caesars Palace, The Venetian & Palazzo and the MGM Grand.
The Strat has been part of Golden Entertainment’s portfolio since 2017 – it was then renovated at a cost of $140m.
Following completion of the deal, Golden Entertainment is set to retain the real estate of just one of its casinos.
It will continue to own Gold Town Casino in Pahrump as well as its 72 gaming taverns across Nevada.
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